Witness the Magic of Grand Illumination Night on Martha’s Vineyard

The gingerbread houses of Oak Bluffs already have an air of magic, but on one special day a year, their fairytale status is solidified. In this season 4 segment of Weekends with Yankee (episode 406), we are on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts to witness the wonder of Grand Illumination Night, a special celebration in August commemorating the end of summer. We talk to homeowners in Oak Bluffs who decorate their beloved gingerbread houses in lanterns and lights, lighting up the entire neighborhood at sundown. This tradition has been going on for 150 years, attracting people from the island and the mainland. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate a beautiful summer spent on Martha’s Vineyard.

About Weekends with Yankee

Produced by GBH, Boston’s preeminent public media producer, Weekends with Yankee is a Telly Award–winner in theTourism/Travel category and was recently nominated for Best New Series and Best Travel Program by The Taste Awards. Series funding for Weekends with Yankee is provided by New Hampshire Division of Travel & Tourism Development, Maine Office of Tourism, Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, The Barn Yard, American Cruise Lines, and Grady-White Boats.